Closure for pitchers



E. W. COOPER.

CLOSURE FOR PITCHERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1920.

Patented May 3, 1921.

UNITED STATES EDWARD W. COOPER, OF BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY.

CLOSURE FOE PITCHERS.

Application filed July 6, 1920.

To 1? Z il 107M it may concern:

it known that I, EDWARD W. Coornn, a ci 'zen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Warren and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Closures for Pitchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

his invention relates to pitchers, and more particularly to closures for pitchers, as for example, syrup, cream pitchers, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a closure which comprises means for effecting a double seal of the contents of the pitcher, whereby to insure a cleanly and sanitary condition, preventing the entrance of dirt, flies or other extraneous matter.

Vvith the above and other important objects in view, he invention embodies as a feature of construction a cap for covering th top of the pitcher, or other vessel, a spout contained within said cap which is movable so as to be positioned within or outside of the top portion of the pitcher, a second closure or cap for the spout, and mechanism actuated by the opening of the first-named cap for lifting the second cap and for thereafter moving the spout outwardly in position for discharging the contents of the pitcher.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof, in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, and wherein:

Figure 1 represents in side elevation a pitcher containing the elements of the in vention;

F 2 is a plan View thereof showing the outer cap in open position;

Fig, 3 is a vertical section of the top portion of the pitcher. illustrating the two caps or closures and operating mechanism;

Fig. t is a similar view with the outer cap raised and the spout in pouring position; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating both closures in fully open position.

The pitcher, or other vessel 1, may be made of glass, porcelain or metal, and is provided at its upper open end with a circumferential band 3 which may be secured to the top portion 1 by cement 4, or the like. An outer inclosing cap 5, is hinged at 6 to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Serial No. 394,247.

the band 3, said cap being provided with a suitable operating thumb piece 7.

Projecting upwardly within the band 3 are two cars 9, 9, to which the spout 11 is secured hingedly through the instrumentality of a suitably hinged pin 10 and the second sealing member or cap 13 which fits over and closes the forward and side edge portions of the spout 11 is hinged to the side walls of said spout by a hinge pin 14. A pin 16 extends across the spout and through ahned holes in its rear edges, said pin being located immediately back of the hinge pin Spiral springs 18 are wound about the pm 1 1, one end of each of said springs being connected with the closure cap 13, while the other ends of said springs may be conveniently wound about or anchored to the pin 16. This spring acts to close the cap 13, when permitted. The rear central portion of the cap 13 is provided with a projection or lug 20, which is engaged by a finger 21, extending from a linlr22 which is pivotally mounted upon the pin 16. The rear end of this link is pivoted by a pin 23 between two spaced arms 25 which latter are rigidly fastened to the inside of the rear portion of the outer closure or cap 5. The hinge pin 6 connecting the cap 5 with the band 3 is encircled by two spiral springs 27 each having one of its ends connected with the band and its opposite end secured to the cap 5, the normal tendency of said. springs being to cause the cap to close upon the band 3 when permitted to do so.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the spout 11 is withdrawn inside of the band 3, and the caps 5 and 13 are closed, the latter upon the spout 11 and the former upon the band 3, thus effectively sealing the contents of the pitcher, and covering the open or discharge end of the spout. In order to use the pitcher for pouring out or discharging its contents, the thumb piece 7 will be depressed, whereupon the cap 5 will be raised, first to the position shown in Fig. 4, a further movement of the cap, causing it to tilt backwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5, which will, through the action of the arms 25 lift the link 22 sufiiciently to cause the finger piece 21 thereon to press downwardly upon the lug 20 of the cap 13, thus lifting the latter so as to expose the spout and permit the contents to be discharged therethrough without ob struction. Movement of the cap 5 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 will through the arms 25 and link 22 swing the spout 11 upon its pivot pin, causing it to move from its position within the band 3, as shown in Fig. 3, to that disclosed in Fig. 4, where the pouring lip of the spout will be inclined relatively'to the longitudinal axis of the pitcher, thus providing an easy path for the outward flow of the liquid when the pitcher is tilted; and conversely, when the handle 7 is released, the arms 25 and links 16 will be moved in a direction to permit the spring 18 to close the cap 13 upon the spout and continued closing movement of the cap 5 will effect through said arms and link first a withdrawal of the spout into the band 11 until it assumes the upright position shown in Fig. 3, and finally a closing of the cap 5 upon the upper end of said band to completely seal all of the parts within said band and cap.

It will be seen that when closed the operative parts of the device, including the spout, arms 25, link, and closure 13, are securely sealed and covered so as to be protected from contamination by dirt, insects, etc., and when the closure is to be opened a single movement will effect the uncovering of the inclosed parts, and the movement into position of the spoutready iiorpouring out or discharging the contents oi? the pitcher.

The lid or closure 13 acts to bite or? or stop the flow of liquid dripping from the spout 11 when said lid is closed, and this is particularly advantageous where the pitcher is used for syrup, which, as is well known, hasa tendency to drip from the spouts of pitchers, and is ordinarily scraped oif with a knife. 7

Having described theinvcntion what is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a pivoted spout, a

cap for seating directly upon the upper end of said spout, a cap for inclosing the upper part of the vessel and said spout and its closure, and mechanism operated by said cap for tilting the said spout and for thereafter opening its closure.

3. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a vessel top provided with a tilting spent, a spring-pressed lid for said spout, a cap for inclosing said spout and lid and the'upper part of the vessel, and mechanism operated when said cap is opened for tilting said spout and for thereafter lifting said lid, said parts being reversely operated when pressure upon the cap is released.

t. A device of the class described, comprising in combination an annular band to be attached to a vessel, a closing cap hinged to said band, yielding means for closing said cap, a spout pivoted to a fixed member within said band and arranged to tilt into an inclined position, or to be withdrawn into a vertical position, when the vessel is upright, a spring-pressed lid for closing said spout, and mechanism connected with said cap and constructed and arranged, when said cap is opened, to first tilt the spout into an inclined position, and to thereafter raise said lid from the spout to permit discharge of the contents of the vessel. 7 r

In testimony whereoi I have hereunto set my hand this third day of July, A. D. 1920.

EDXVARD Vi. COOPER. Viitness:

E. S. CLAYPOOL. 

